James William Lauer was sentenced to two years and six months to almost eight years in a Pennsylvania state prison for the Jan. 19 crash where Lauer was driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.36. Penalties begin for most drivers at 0.08.

Lauer was on parole at the time of the crash for a prior DUI, and Lehigh County Judge Kelly Banach sentenced him for the parole violation as well. With both sentences, Lauer was sentenced today to a total of 3 1/2 years to almost 13 years in state prison.

Banach said she appreciated Lauer taking responsibility for his actions, but she needed to send a message to the community that she wasn't going to wait for someone to be killed to send him to state prison.

Lauer readily admitted in court he is an alcoholic and said he's used alcohol or drugs since he was 13; he's 53 now.

"It's not much of a life," Lauer said.

According to a presentence report, Lauer was drinking all weekend before the crash and left to pick up a six-pack when he started drinking while on the errand.